The free exhibit “Imagining the future – Leonardo da Vinci: In the mind of an Italian genius” went on display at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown D.C. on Wednesday. The exhibit includes 12 original drawings from da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus collection. This is the first time so many of these pieces have been on display in the United States, library officials said.

The collection “will likely never be back here again,” said Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the library system’s executive director.

The drawings display da Vinci’s futurist vision and his engineering acumen.

“He was really an engineer first, and he fancied himself a painter secondarily, so these drawings really, I think, stress his obsession with motion, with machines,” Reyes-Gavilan said.

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An exhibit called “Leonardo’s Lab” is geared toward children and has hands-on activities.

The main exhibit will be on display through Aug. 20. The children’s exhibit will show through Sept. 30.

Only a small number of people are allowed into the main exhibit at once. Visitors sign up in the library’s vestibule and then get a text when it’s their turn. See the library’s website for more information.

From the 1800s to the 1950s, the space held alley dwellings along the U Street corridor in Northwest D.C. Right now, it is a COVID-era community garden. On Sept. 30, when the garden’s lease ends, it will be turned into townhomes.

“You’re standing in somebody’s living room in the past and you’re standing in somebody’s living room in the future,” U Street Neighborhood Association President Aaron Lewis said. “And right now, we’re in the special window in time where it’s somehow impossibly a garden.”

A Time Machine

Centuries before it was a garden, the Anacostans were stewards of the land. When Congress declared the swamplands of D.C. the nation’s capital in the 1790s, it became a part of the U.S. In Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s plans for the City of Washington, it was known as Square 274, according to the U Street Neighborhood Association’s Temperance Alley Garden timeline.

The alley was occupied between the 1800s and 1950s. Its first residents were freed slaves who migrated to D.C. following the Civil War, Lewis said. In the alley, they found cheap shack-like houses with no plumbing, heat or sewage systems.

In the early 1900s, the poor conditions of alley dwellings caught the attention of Congress. By 1934, the Alley Dwellings Authority was created to clear D.C.’s alleys of homes and occupants.

Over the years, working-class Black people established a close, supportive community known as Temperance Court. In 1953, the 23 townhomes in the alley were torn down, displacing over 130 residents, according to the U Street Neighborhood Association. At a Land Acknowledgement Ceremony, Ben’s Chili Bowl Owner Virginia Ali said she knew someone who lived in Temperance Court before it was demolished.

The homes were never rebuilt, and part of the alley came to be used as a parking lot. Decades later, in the 2000s, several attempts were made to create affordable housing in the alley. The area was also used for a farmers’ and artists’ market.

During COVID-19, Lewis and his roommates were stuck inside their rowhouse near the alley and contacted EastBanc, the developer who acquired the property in 2012, and received a temporary lease for a park.

“I’ve been very impressed with the energy that the team running the garden has brought to it,” EastBanc redevelopment manager Hope Richardson said. “You see a lot of community volunteer-run initiatives that start with a lot of enthusiasm and fizzle because people move on, or people get busy.”

Now, throughout the garden, there are layers of the alley’s past that the stewards excavate like amateur archeologists, including broken pieces of parking lot asphalt, empty oyster shell husks, brown clay pottery pieces and bricks of sunbaked faded reds.

“We really try to engage people that time machine element with the deeper past and help them picture what it was like, so they feel a greater sense of connection to this neighborhood,” Temperance Alley Garden Chair Josh Morin said.

On Garden Time

Over a three-year lease, the stewards transformed a vacant lot slated for construction into a pop-up community garden. The area is tucked behind homes, making it a peaceful retreat from the bustling bar-filled noise of U Street and its Metro station.

The garden appears at first glance to be just a fence protecting overgrown weeds, but beyond its entrance it is a series of intentional spaces, an urban rewilding experiment. Once inside, you can hear birds chirp as city noises become muffled and calm settles in.

“U Street’s like the come-up and then the garden can be the comedown,” Morin said.

In the space’s Welcome Womb, visitors enter a circle of found items inside a knee-length wall of plants, like a labyrinth or clock. This is where weekly meditations are held and where a Little Free Library is located. Walk through an arch to the Lawn, a grassy open area where people sit to watch concerts, do yoga and attend the garden’s events.

“I would say Temperance Garden is a learning landscape, an urban farm, a time machine and a construction site,” Lewis said. “And it’s a place where neighbors come together to host a lot of different classes, workshops, experiences where we can learn together, create art together and grow together.”

An overgrown Virginia Creeper winds its way up from the ground, creating a green roof on a wooden pergola with a brick floor and chairs. The stewards consider the Pavilion to be the garden’s outdoor living room and a “reanimated ruin” — the only thing left of the 2000s market.

A thriving mulberry tree and vegetables that grow in wood or brick planter boxes mark the Café Garden behind the Pavilion. Hand-painted signs identify hot peppers, tomatoes, the leafy beginnings of eggplants and dormant vines of watermelons.

Volunteers grow the produce along with Farm the District. They take some of the produce home, share recipes in the garden’s homemade zine and donate some of it to Martha’s Table.

Among the vegetables, the Story Circle is a black geodesic dome with campfire energy, Lewis said. Pillows and tree stumps are used for seating; a hanging “dynamic” talking stick is meant to facilitate sharing.

“Whether you’re new to the neighborhood or you’ve been around here for 50 years and seen it completely transform, the storytelling, the connection with people that aren’t just in your immediate vicinity, is sort of the whole purpose of this outdoor community space,” Morin said as he sat inside the Story Circle among wildflowers and plants.

At the back of the garden is the “time capsule,” a black chest with gold buckles that sits closed on a platform of light stone. It is filled with items found in the garden, writings, art, poems, signs, bucket lists and a scrapbook. In front of it, a bench looks back into the green tangles of the garden.

Lewis described it as a seed vault or memory bank of all of their event ideas: something they will keep once the garden is gone, “to reanimate other places that we want to help bring to life in the future.”

‘A Moment in Time’

Though its stewards are counting the days wistfully (and literally: “144,” Morin said on May 9), Lewis and Morin both emphasized the project was created with an end date in mind.

The stewards are planning a full schedule for the garden’s final season of events; it’s D.C.’s last chance to get to U Street and experience the garden.

“For season three of the garden, we’re doing everything a little bigger,” Lewis said.

Each event will be headed by a neighbor, volunteer or partner organization that wants to share their passion with the neighborhood, Morin said. You’ll find theater, art, music, mind and body events, gardening and meditation.

Alexander Currey said he helps organize the garden workdays and hosts a meditation circle on Wednesdays. He credits the garden with giving him and other volunteers a place to express themselves outside of work.

“It was such a fulfilling project for me, both from a social standpoint, but also just, you know, how I want to live in community and how I want to show up in the city that I call home,” Currey said.

For Sara Mack, who is helping organize the events this summer, the garden was the perfect space for this time in her life.

“It’s hard to see that go away, but it is also just a really important lesson in appreciating what you have, regardless of the timeframe that you have it,” Mack said.

June Events:

• Volunteer Gardening Hours: June 17 and 24; 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
• Juggling for Everyone: June 17; 5-6:30 p.m.
• Craft in the Garden: June 19; 6:30-8 p.m.
• Yoga in the Garden: June 20; 6-7 p.m.
• Secret Cacao Garden: June 20; 5-8 p.m.
• Group Meditation: June 21 and 28; 6-7 p.m.
• Open Songwriting Hours: June 22; 6-8 p.m.
• Tea Time with Tanya: June 22; 7-8:30 p.m.
• “Your Ass Is Grass” Comedy Show: June 23; 7-9 p.m.
• Summer Solstice 🌞 Celebration: June 24; 6-9 p.m.
• PALC at the PARK: June 28; 6-8 p.m.
• Music in the Garden: June 30; 7-9 p.m.

For a full list of the garden’s events, visit the U Street Neighborhood Association website.

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Voice actors behind the Transformers testified in support of letting three huge Transformers statues remain outside a house in the Georgetown neighborhood — but District officials said they need to go.

Statues of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee have stood guard on Prospect Street NW for more than two years, attracting tourists and children. A third statue is installed on the rooftop.

Neuroscientist Newton Howard said the “iconic” statues stand outside his home to send the message that machines are our friends.

But some members of the Public Space Committee said they detract from Georgetown’s historic streetscapes and that Howard missed permit deadlines and ignored official entreaties to remove the sculptures. The commission is the latest body to vote for their removal — despite an impassioned plea from Optimus Prime.

“Georgetown should be proud to share his visions for transformation,” a voice actor said in character.

The actor who voiced Bumblebee in the first animated series featuring the Transformers also testified in the virtual meeting.

“They say that this thing sort of sticks out like a sore thumb, and I informed them that as Bumblebee, I resent being referred to as a sore thumb. A fully functioning, healthy thumb? Perhaps,” the actor told News4.

On a more serious note, attorney Paul Strauss — who also is D.C.’s shadow senator, lobbying for D.C. statehood — said the debate over whether the Transformers statues should stay highlights an overreaching federal presence that no state has to endure.

Strauss said he and Howard, the homeowner, will appeal the committee’s ruling that the statues need to go.

Hopefully, whatever the outcome, there will be no hard feelings, a Transformers actor testified in character.

“Autobots, humans: Let us transform ‘till all are one,” he said.

It’s a loss almost impossible for Daniel Johnson to put into words.

“Anytime you lose a pet — I mean, they’re a family member,” he said.

Flames ripped through apartment at MacArthur Boulevard and Q Street NW on Saturday, with his dogs, Max, Ashes and Cinder trapped inside. Johnson ran into the burning building to try to save them.

The former firefighter did his best to save his pets, but two of them — Max and Ashes — did not survive.

“I carried those three girls out of that apartment Saturday night and it brought back memories, but you know, those were my kids, not someone else’s,” Johnson said.

Cinder was rushed to an animal hospital, where she’s was getting around-the-clock care. On Tuesday night, she was transferred to a different animal hospital to get more intensive care.

She helped Johnson through a rough patch a few years ago. Now Johnson, a cancer survivor, says it’s his turn to help her.

“She had me getting up and taking her out for walks when I was going through cancer treatment,” he said. “I mean, she was very therapeutic for me because, you know, the pups got to go out. I didn’t want to do anything.”

Johnson says he’s grateful to be alive, but he’s got a long road ahead. He lost all of his belongings in the fire. Cinders’ emergency vet bills have piled up. His sister started an online fundraiser to help him pick up the pieces.

“And we’re just trying to help Danny get back on his feet,” his sister, Dayle Hadden, said. “He lost everything. I mean, he can’t get his dogs back, no, sadly, but it goes beyond that.”

“I’ve carried pets out of a burning building. I’ve carried children. I’ve carried burned people. So it’s one of these things now where it’s my turn,” Johnson said. “And it’s not because I didn’t think it could never happen to me. I just, you know, at 61, it hasn’t happened yet — until Saturday.”

The cause of that fire remains under investigation.

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The fire started just before 7 p.m. in the 5200 block of Georgia Avenue NW.

More than 100 firefighters responded to the blaze as smoke billowed from the top of the buildings. 

“Our biggest challenge, our most immediate challenge, was preventing further spread of the fire,” D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson Vito Maggiolo said. 

No one inside the buildings was hurt, but a firefighter did suffer injuries that were not life-threatening.

“I feel very bad, you know, because it was hard for me to buy this property and now when I see the way it is right now inside, I don’t want to go inside,” said Jose Diaz, who owns the building.

Karen Serpas, a worker inside the Mariachi Restaurant and Bar, recorded video of the flames.

“It was full of smoke, and we all ran out,” she said. 

Raul Lopez, who owns the restaurant, said he has about 15 employees who are now temporarily out of work.

Ambzam Misgina, a business owner who is about to open a restaurant a few doors down, said he was shocked when he heard the news but was thankful it wasn’t worse.

“Wow, I was so nervous. I thought the entire building was on fire, but thank God it’s saved and the fire department is close by, so it was good luck for us,” Misgina said.

Investigators said the fire started after someone was grilling behind the church, which neighbors said has been vacant for years. It’s not believed to have been intentionally set.

Karen Abbott, who lives next to where the fire started, said she’s noticed people starting fires behind the vacant church a few times and has had to call the fire department before. She said she was scared something like this would happen.

“It could’ve been my house. That’s what I think,” she said. “It could’ve been my house. It could’ve jumped over here on my fence, onto my storage. It could’ve been us. It could’ve been the whole neighborhood.”

There is no word yet on estimated damage.

A federal charge was filed earlier this month against Hylton, the mother of Karon Hylton-Brown, who died in 2020 after police chased him and his scooter crashed.

Hylton is accused of violating a law that makes it illegal to “assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with a federal law enforcement officer,” court documents say. It wasn’t immediately clear if she has a lawyer.

Hylton-Brown was 20 and the father of an infant when police saw him riding an electric scooter on streets and sidewalks in the Brightwood Park neighborhood of Northwest D.C. Officers chased him, he was hit by a passing van and he died three days later.

In December, Officer Terence Sutton, who was driving a police car, was found guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice. Lt. Andrew Zabavsky, who was driving a second police car, was found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Sutton’s conviction marks the first time an on-duty D.C. officer was charged and convicted of murder.

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As the jury announced its verdict in the officers’ case, Hylton-Brown’s mother screamed, yelled, stomped her feet and snapped her fingers, court documents say. A courtroom security officer told her she had to leave.

“You need to get her out,” another officer said.

Then the judge ordered Hylton to leave.

Two officers began to escort her out of the courtroom as she yelled, including at Sutton and Zabavsky.

Hylton is accused of charging toward a courtroom officer, bumping him with her chest and pushing him with both hands. The officer fell back onto a bench, and Hylton was put in handcuffs.

Two days after Hylton pushed the officer, he went to urgent care because of pain in his chest, the court documents say. His X-rays were negative and he was prescribed a muscle relaxant and naproxen, the active ingredient in Aleve.

Police initially said that officers pursued Hylton-Brown because he was riding the scooter without wearing a helmet.

“These officers chased and hunted my child,” Hylton told News4 after Sutton was indicted.

Hylton-Brown’s relatives and others protested outside the Fourth District police station for days after the chase and crash. Police say the group threw rocks, set fires, smashed windows and injured six officers. Officers deployed pepper spray against them.

A small white Mazda with Texas tags was headed north on Connecticut Avenue near the Cleveland Park library when the car hit another car and left the scene, a witness said. News4 was on the scene during the emergency response.

The driver continued north to Macomb Street NW, stopped at the traffic light, slowly passed through the intersection and then drifted into opposing traffic. The white Mazda then hit a parked Audi SUV.

“All of a sudden it swerved and hit that car, and so apparently the driver was passed out,” said Kenny, a witness to the crash.

Kenny said he was waiting to get into the Cleveland Park library at about 1 p.m. when he saw the Mazda hatchback collide with the parked Audi.

Officers from the Secret Service Uniformed Division were on the scene very quickly, he said.

“They were screaming ‘Narcan! Narcan!'” he said.

One person got out and passed out on a sidewalk. U.S. Secret Service officers were nearby and found two other people in the white car. They started to perform CPR on all three people.

One person was pronounced dead and two others were taken to hospitals. The victims were a woman and two men. The name of the person who died was not immediately released.

D.C. police and D.C. Fire and EMS were called to the scene at about 1:15 p.m. The initial call reported that one person was unconscious. District officials then learned of the other two victims.

The investigation kept one lane of Connecticut Avenue closed well into the evening rush.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

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Surveillance footage shows an Amazon driver walking behind Rebeca Estrada last month as she talks to a table of customers.

“It was shocking, for one, and then immediately it turns to anger,” she said Thursday.

Estrada has been general manager of Rumi’s Kitchen, on L Street NW, for more than a year. She filed a police report alleging the driver grabbed her as he walked past.

“I felt extremely violated by this, and I just want to do my part in preventing this from continuing to happen or potentially escalating with other victims,” she said.

Video provided by her lawyer shows the driver walking past her and his hand pressing against her rear. The video clearly shows the man’s hand up against her.

Estrada wants Amazon to take some responsibility. When she reported what happened, she says the company offered her a $25 discount on the order that was delivered.

D.C. police served Amazon with a subpoena for the identity of the driver.

“For a company that encourages customers to give access into their homes and give door codes, they must do better, because if he’s brazen enough to do this, what’s it gonna be next time?” attorney Madeleine Simmons asked.

News4 asked Amazon the status of the driver and whether it does background checks on drivers. A representative issued this response: “This is a very serious situation and we’re conducting an internal review while we also work with law enforcement as they investigate.”

Estrada and her attorney threatened to sue Amazon if it turns out the driver had previous complaints or a criminal record. According to the attorney, D.C. police served the subpoena to Amazon last week and the company has 30 days to reply.

D.C. police said it happened at about 7:30 p.m. near the corner of 14th and S streets NW.

The target of the robbery told News4 she was inside a hardware store and went out to find her white scooter gone. Then she heard the gunshots.

“I heard something and I ran away to the restaurant,” she said, unsure of what had happened. “I just heard the first one and I ran away.”

Witnesses told police they saw three young men involved in the incident on a red scooter. Video captured by a security camera at a nearby business showed three men heading up 14th Street NW on a red scooter moments before the shooting.

The bystander who was shot was believed to have also been on a scooter when he tried to intervene. 

A man who did not want to be identified said he saw what happened. 

“He told them to stop, not to steal it,” he said. 

The victim was shot in the stomach and suffered serious injuries, but is expected to survive.

It was not clear if authorities made any arrests. They asked business owners whose security cameras may have captured the crime to contact them with any potentially relevant information.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

The incident happened at Wise Road near Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park at about 7:50 p.m.

A person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Photos show a large tree toppled across the road and onto the front of a silver car. The car’s airbag appears to have deployed, while the driver-side door is open. Parts of the car and the tree are strewn across the road.

It was not immediately clear what caused the tree to fall.

Rain was forecasted in the D.C. area for Saturday evening and Sunday.

Nearby residents told News4 waterlogged branches and trees often fall during rainstorms in the area.

Wise Road was closed Sunday morning as crews worked to clear the tree.

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The owner of Pearl’s Bagels in Northwest D.C. said he doesn’t want other small businesses to lose money like he did to the elaborate scammer, who arrived at their location during one of the busiest time of the week.

The impersonator, who was caught on video, walked in wearing a hat and carrying a notepad. He said he was going to check on the fire suppression system in the back, and after he did, he came back with four different invoices totaling $970.

The problem is, the company he claimed to work for doesn’t exist, and his name was fake.

Owner Oliver Cox was not working at the time, but did speak to the scammer on the phone. He didn’t think it was anything out of the ordinary, because he had actually put in a call recently to make sure his fire suppression system was up to date. 

The man told the manager who was working at the time that Cox was OK with the payments being made in cash.

Cox said that wasn’t true, but the manager, who was incredibly busy with customers, bought the lie and paid the scammer.

Cox said he realized something didn’t add up once he saw the invoices.

When he looked up the address and company name, Cox saw several news articles pop up about other people who had been scammed in similar ways. 

“It hurts to give that much money away and hand it to a con artist,” he said. “We’re not going to have to close up shop because of it but it definitely–it seems like this guy has done it a lot. And I just really hope people are more cautious than we were.”

Cox said rather than dwell on what happened, he’s being proactive. He’s filed a police report and hopes that by sharing his story, the person responsible can be caught.

D.C. police distributed images of the man caught on video and said they’re seeking him on suspicion of first-degree fraud.

Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police. A reward of up to $1,000 is available.

Sgt. Jin Park, an 11-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, was killed, the department said. He was assigned to the Fourth District.

Chief of Police Robert Contee relayed his condolences.

“It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of an admired and beloved MPD Sergeant. Our heartfelt sympathies are with the Park family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Let us honor his memory and find strength in the knowledge that his actions with our department had a positive impact on all those around him,” Contee said in a statement.

Park was riding a motorcycle at about 5 a.m. Friday when the vehicle collided with a Toyota Prius at Piney Branch Road and Aspen Street in the Takoma area of Northwest D.C. Traffic was shut down, and the smashed motorcycle and car were seen being towed.

The driver of the Prius stayed on the crash scene and was not injured.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, police said. Investigators checked nearby homes to see if any surveillance cameras captured the crash.

Park is survived by his mother and brother, police said. His age was not immediately released.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

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As Le Diplomate hits 10 years of serving presidents, tourists and everyone in between, News4 checked out secrets to the French cafe’s staying power. 

Le Diplomate strives for consistency in its food, ambiance and hospitality, said Eva Torres, director of restaurants for Starr Restaurants, Le Diplomate’s parent company. 

“We do tastings of all of our dishes at the beginning of every shift — brunch, lunch, dinner — to make sure that the omelet you’re having today is going to be the same that you have in the next year,” she said. 

Le Diplomate aims to provide consistently high service for dignitaries and everyday people alike. 

“Every guest that comes in should feel like they are the special guests here of the evening,” Torres said. “There’s no preferential treatment. A table of 20 will be treated just as well as a table of one.” 

As for the ambiance, Torres said she thinks the restaurant’s high windows are key and give a unique “airiness” in the daytime. 

“This restaurant has a special feeling in it, day or night,” she said. 

Outside, Le Diplomate has been credited with adding sophistication to the 14th Street corridor and transforming the block.

In the kitchen, Executive Chef Will Trover shared some tricks to making Le Diplomate’s classic, rolled French omelet. 

“We’re taking the eggs and we’re scrambling them very aggressively and kind of making a custard out of it. And then we let the bottom set, and then we roll it in place so that when you cut it open, it’s very custardy inside,” he said in the restaurant’s bustling kitchen. 

Control of the stove’s flame is important, he added.

Trover counted the omelet as one of his favorite dishes, as well as the escargot. 

“We do a very nice compound butter — a secret recipe, of course. With dipping in the baguette, it’s perfect,” he said. 

The shooting happened at around 3 p.m. at the Columbia Plaza Apartments in the 2400 block of Virginia Avenue NW in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, a few blocks from George Washington University.

Minutes later, an alert was sent out to residents of the apartment complex, warning them about the gunfire and asking them to stay indoors.

“I have friends in this building, friends down the road. They’re a little shooken up. Some of them were locking doors in the campus itself,” resident Mitchell Lewis said. 

The victim was taken to the hospital and is conscious and breathing.

D.C. police blocked off the entrance to the fitness center. They are still looking for the man who opened fire and took off. It is unknown what led to the shooting. 

Though the apartment building is not on-campus housing, many residents, like Lewis, are students.

“Right when I was walking up down the street here, I saw all the police, the fire trucks and ambulances. They all just kind of converged right when I was walking up. [I] was sort of confused [about] what to do. And pretty much within a minute, I saw them take the guy out on a stretcher into the ambulance, and they took him right away,” he said. 

Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

Dr. Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor was arrested Wednesday at his clinic on Georgia Avenue NW, Telemundo 44 DC footage shows. A number of officials with the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department could be seen. 

Okafor, 63, was arrested on 16 counts of illegal distribution of opioids, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia announced. 

“Okafor allegedly performed only cursory evaluations of individuals, and further solicited and received cash inside the examination rooms of his clinic in exchange for opioid prescriptions,” prosecutors said in a statement. 

Court documents show that Okafor, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is accused of distributing oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose 16 times between March and November 2022. He allegedly sold 60 pills each time for $180 to $250.

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Okafor Medical Associates, in the 7600 block of Georgia Avenue NW near the Maryland border, advertises health care and cosmetic services including chronic disease management, Botox, fillers and reflexology. 

If convicted, Okafor faces up to 20 years in prison. He made an initial appearance in court on Wednesday and is set to return on Friday. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has a lawyer.

The building was located at the intersection of 41st and Chesapeake street NW in Tenleytown, a block away from Jackson Reed High School, according to D.C. Fire and Emergency Services. The collapse was first reported around 5 p.m.

The building appeared to be under construction. It had windows covered with wood planks, wood framing and construction vehicles parked outside.

A witness described seeing the building crumbling to News4.

“They’ve been making a lot of noise; then I just heard this massive bang. And I just look over, and I just see debris falling from the building, and I see this whole cloud of dust,” witness Ben Cole said. “And I was like, ‘Oh, that building just collapsed.'”

The collapse exposed the interior framing of the structure, leaving a pile of bricks and wood planks in front.

D.C.’s Department of Buildings is investigating the cause of the partial collapse.

No injuries were reported.

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DC Fire and EMS was called to Key Elementary School, on Dana Place NW. 

Administrators learned that “a student brought gummies containing an unidentified controlled substance to school and shared them with several other students in the 5th grade,” a letter to families said. 

Students “began to feel unwell” and went to see the school nurse. Medics were called to assess the students and determined they had ingested a drug. School officials called students’ families, and five children were taken to a hospital for monitoring. Information was not released on the severity of the children’s symptoms or if they knew what they had eaten.

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A school official asked families to remind their children not to eat unfamiliar foods or substances. The school will hold “age-appropriate conversations around substance use awareness and prevention” with fifth grade students, they said. 

The number of children who accidentally ate marijuana-laced edibles rose sharply over five years as marijuana became legal in more places, according to a study published earlier this year. In nearly a quarter of reported cases, children wound up hospitalized, an analysis in the journal Pediatrics found.

Someone called 911 early Sunday morning to report an overdose on the Northwest D.C. campus.

“Medic Local Engine 2, Medic 2, responding for an overdose. A 19-year-old female at McDowell Hall, 400 Mass Avenue Northwest,” a dispatcher can be heard saying.

A crew responded to 400 Massachusetts Ave. NW and found that the emergency was about five miles away, at 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, according to dispatch audio.

“Can we verify the address? We’re at 400 Mass Avenue. No one here has called,” a paramedic said.

Safety advocate Dave Statter sounded the alarm and called for accountability. 

“Every second counts, every minute counts, in an emergency,” he said. 

What happened to the woman reported to have overdosed was unclear. 

“We do know that they waited for an ambulance to come and for firefighters to arrive,” Statter said, estimating a delay of 13 minutes.

The D.C. Office of Unified Communications, which handles 911 calls, declined to comment on the response to the call.

An American University representative said DC Fire and EMS was called to the campus because a visitor was having a medical emergency. School officials are working on the appropriate approach to making Narcan, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, available on campus. 

“We support training and education for the community on Narcan use and safety,” the AU representative said. 

Statter recommended knowing exactly where you are so you can help yourself in an emergency.

Two men were found shot by D.C. police officers at around 9:20 p.m. in the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue at Fairmont Street NW.

Both were conscious and breathing and taken to an area hospital, authorities said. 

A third man arrived on his own at a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds. 

Georgia Avenue was closed in both directions between Fairmont Street NW and Gresham Place NW.

The scene is directly across from Howard University dorms, though the shooting does not appear to be connected to the university.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

The fire started on the back porch of the two-story building in the 4800 block of 3^rd Street NW around midnight, according to D.C. Fire and EMS.

Flames and smoke could be seen billowing from the building as firefighters worked to put out the fire from the ground and ladder trucks.

News4 spoke to Tariq Abdal Haqq, who managed to escape the flames as they started to consume the two-story building.

Haqq said he and his girlfriend were watching television when they heard neighbors call 911 and say, “save my baby.” He then rushed into the hallway where it was hard to see.

“I noticed a stream of smoke. I grabbed the child, took her, took him outside. And then after that, the building pretty much filled with smoke,” Haqq said.

The toddler made it out of the fire, but Haqq’s pit bull, who he and his girlfriend tried to save did not.

“We were able to, me and my girlfriend who lived in the apartment were able to rescue one of our dogs. The other dog did not make it out, unfortunately,” Haqq said.

Haqq and his girlfriend both went to the hospital with no life-threatening injuries. When they were released, they returned to their home to see how many of their items they could salvage.

He is a DJ who plays at local clubs and owns thousands of records, while his girlfriend sells vintage clothes. He hoped the clothes, equipment and sentimental items would make it through the fire.

“It’s every, every DJ’s worst nightmare,” he said. “The clothes are gone. We don’t know what we’re gonna do.”

While looking for what was left after the fire, Haqq realized he and his girlfriend need a fire emergency plan.

“Rest in peace Buttons. I’m gonna miss my pit bull. But if we had had a better plan. Hopefully, well, hopefully in the future we will have a better plan,” he said.

In total, seven residents and a dog have been displaced. A cat also died in the fire, and another is unaccounted for, according to firefighters.

People in the neighborhood reported hearing a boom around midnight.

Roads were closed while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for more updates.

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Kenneth Philips, 22, escaped DOC staff by running away while at the hospital for medical treatment at about 8:30 a.m., according to a Metropolitan Police Department release. The hospital is located in the Shaw neighborhood.

In a statement, Howard University said their Department of Public Safety (DPS) received an alert at about 8:45 a.m. regarding a patient in DOC’s custody who was “seen fleeing the hospital into the surrounding neighborhood.”

“The safety of the Howard University community is the top priority of HUDPS. The department is supporting ongoing canvassing of the area and the current assessment of DPS, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Corrections suggests that there is no active threat to the Howard University campus, HUH patients or staff,” the university said in a statement.

Philips was arrested in November 2021 for carjacking and burglary charges, according to police.

He was seen wearing a black shirt and red and blue underwear. Police described him as a Black male who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 210 pounds. 

He was also seen boarding a Metrobus, according to the university’s statement.

Earlier in the day, officials said he had been apprehended but later said that this was not the case.

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The Downtown Cluster of Congregations said they have reported dozens of streetlight outages, and many are in areas that have recently had crime.

“There’s 100 if not 1,000 pieces to the puzzle, but it seems to me, that an easy and quick one is having the streetlights working,” Terry Lynch, Downtown Cluster of Congregations executive director said.

A week after a man was killed and a woman injured in a shooting on V Street NW, the organization found a streetlight out just feet from where the crime occurred.

“We want these fixed, we want them fixed now, we can’t wait,” Lynch said. “I should not be coming out here at night to find streetlights out at Florida and U Street.”

Photos the organization took over the weekend show streetlights out on U Street near 13^th and 14^th Streets as well as Girard Street in Columbia Heights.

“The other night we found about three dozen streetlights out by rec. centers, schools, commercial districts so it’s not an anomaly, we’re seeing it across town and it’s particularly concerning when we have it in these nightlife district areas like Adams Morgan,” Lynch said.

On Monday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the city is increasing police presence in Adams Morgan. She also said the District is expanding its task forces focused on nightlife corridors and reducing violent crime.

“A task force is great, but we need the pedal to the metal, we need urgency, we need to see results,” Lynch said.

In addition to calling on the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to fix the outages, Lynch said he would like to see a citywide survey of streetlights.

News4 reached out to DDOT and has not yet received a response.

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The victims were taken to a hospital after gunfire was reported at around 9:35 p.m.

The man, who was shot in the stomach, was later pronounced dead.

The woman was shot in the leg but found conscious and breathing, authorities said. She was not the intended target of the shooting, police said.

Based on the number of shell casings found near the scene, police believe more than one gun was fired.

D.C. police did not immediately reveal more information about a possible suspect or motive for the shooting.

Authorities closed 14th Street from U to W streets. A portion of V Street was still blocked off on Thursday morning.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

Police were called shortly before 8:45 p.m. Sunday to the fast-food restaurant in the 2400 block of 18th St NW, at the intersection with Columbia Road NW in D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood.

The victims, a man and a woman, were conscious and breathing after the attack, police said. 

Police were still searching for the suspect. More information about the suspect or a potential motive for the stabbing were not provided.

The fire happened at an apartment building in the 1300 block of N. Capitol Street at about 1:30 a.m., D.C. Fire and EMS said.

No injuries were reported.

Photos show firefighters’ ladders aimed at the top of the building.

The Red Cross was notified to help the four adults and three children displaced.

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The robberies happened between 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., the Metropolitan Police Department said in a release.

In five of the eight incidents, the suspects exited a car, approached and assaulted the victims, took the victim’s property and drove away.

The five assaults and robberies occurred in the area of the below addresses:

• 200 block of Webster Street NW
• 4200 block of 2nd Street NW
• 1200 block of Taylor Street NW
• 5500 block of 7th Street NW
• 6400 block of 3rd Street NW

The three assaults where property was not taken occurred in the area of the below addresses:

• 1200 block of Taylor Street NW
• 1300 block of Spring Road NW
• 4300 block of 13th Street NW

Investigators believe a group of four young people driving a gray Cadillac are responsible.

The suspects are facing charges of robbery with force and violence as well as assault with intent to rob.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.

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Around 10 to 15 people allegedly entered the store in the 900 block of I Street, NW around 2:30 p.m.

One of the individuals then sprayed a fire extinguisher, causing a disturbance, according to the release. The robbers then took hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property and fled from the establishment by foot and in multiple vehicles.

The vehicles were captured by nearby surveillance cameras. One car appears to be a black Acura SUV and the other a white Infiniti sedan.

The subjects were around 17 to 25 years old and were wearing black masks and dark clothing, police said.

No injuries were reported and no weapons were involved, authorities said.

DC police are seeking public help in locating the people and vehicles that were involved in the group robbery.

Anyone who can identify these individuals or vehicles, or who has knowledge of this incident should call the police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to 50411.

The felony theft by flash mob was reported at around 2:40 p.m. at the store at 955 I Street NW, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. 

The suspects were around 17-25 years old and wearing black masks and dark clothing during the robbery. The getaway cars were a White Infiniti vehicle following a Black Acura SUV, police said. 

Authorities said no injuries were reported and no weapons were involved.

Anyone with information should contact D.C. police.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

Investigators said a man and a woman in a blue Honda Odyssey pulled up next to the victim on Park Road in Columbia Heights and asked for help. 

The victim said the pair pulled out a gun and forced her to get inside the vehicle. The thieves then stole the victim’s jewelry and $8,000 in cash.

Police said one suspect is a Hispanic woman about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 25 to 30 years old. She was wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans and red or maroon mid-thigh boots, police said.

The other suspect was a Hispanic man under 5 feet tall who appeared older than 40. He had a cloudy left eye, thin build and a goatee. He was last seen wearing a white shirt with blue dots, a black jacket, brown pants and white shoes with red lines, police said.

 Anyone with information is asked to call the Metropolitan Police Department.

The victim says a man approached her and asked for directions about 2:30 p.m. on Park Road in Columbia Heights, the Metropolitan Police Department said.

After the victim agreed to help, a woman showed up and pulled a gun out of her purse, police said.

The female suspect held the victim at gunpoint and told her to get in a green minivan, then drove around as both suspects robbed the victim, police said.

The suspects dropped the victim off near the 1500 block of Newton St. NW.

The victim shared a warning about the dangers that can go along with being a good Samaritan.

“When I took my jacket off, she noticed I had something in my pocket, and she asked for it. That was my money,” the victim told our sister station Telemundo 44.

The suspects also took three gold rings and a gold necklace, according to a police report.

Police said one suspect is a Hispanic woman about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and 25 to 30 years old. She was wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans and red or maroon mid-thigh boots, police said.

The other suspect was a Hispanic man under 5 feet tall who appeared older than 40. He had a cloudy left eye, thin build and a goatee. He was last seen wearing a white shirt with blue dots, a black jacket, brown pants and white shoes with red lines, police said.

The robbery happened Saturday evening when four suspects stole the valet stand from outside of the restaurant, according to the police report.

A video shared on Instagram shows two suspected thieves wearing ski masks loading RPM’s valet stand into the back of a car. The person who posted the video claims it was recorded by a valet worker. 

The valet stand was found a few blocks away with the keys still inside. Customers were able to come back and get their keys on Monday.

A woman who picked up her keys told News4 she was celebrating her birthday when the incident happened. She said she was shocked but glad no one was hurt.

In a statement, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, RPM’s management company said: “We are upset about the unfortunate incident that happened on Saturday. We are working with our valet company to make changes intended to ensure the safety of our customers and their property. We are also actively addressing these security and safety concerns with the city and the police to prevent this from happening again.”

During the holidays, the valet lockbox at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Northwest D.C. was broken into twice and several cars were stolen.

When asked about the recent string of valet robberies, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee said people need to make sure they are securing their property.  

“I want to make sure that people, business owners, people who have responsibility in different spaces, that we’re all working together to do everything that we possibly can to make our community safer,” Contee said.

Police are searching for the four suspects last seen driving away in a black Sedan. If arrested, they are expected to be charged with second-degree theft.

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D.C. police officers responded to gunfire at the Liz Donohue House in the 1400 block of Spring Road NW in the Petworth neighborhood at around 4:25 p.m.

The victim was identified as Aaron Robinson, 39, of Northwest.

A potential motive for the shooting was not immediately provided.  

People in the area told News4’s Mauricio Casillas that they’ve been concerned due to the frequency of crime in the area.

Authorities shared descriptions of the three suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Department.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

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Officers responded to the sound of gunshots in the 3300 block of Georgia Avenue near Morton Street NW at about 6:15 p.m. on Monday, D.C. police said.

The victim was taken to the hospital with no life-threatening injuries, according to police.

In the same area on Saturday, two cars driving on Georgia Avenue at Morton Street were hit with bullets. One of them was an Uber.

Two women riding in the Uber were hurt in the shooting. They are expected to survive their injuries.

News4 spoke to resident Michael Dion Howard who said he is frustrated by the violence.

“You know ’cause I’ve been shot five times, I got shot right there, in my chest, right there on that corner, you know back in the days. So, I’m asking, please, please put down the guns,” Howard said.

Police released a surveillance photo of a silver or gray Hyundai with tinted windows in connection with Monday’s shooting.

Anyone who can identify the car is asked to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099.

It has not been confirmed if the two incidents are connected.

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The man was a passenger in one of the two vehicles that crashed just before 6:15 p.m. at 15^th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW, authorities said. Police did not name the man.

Medics took the man and five other people to a hospital. Three others were evaluated at the scene and declined further treatment. The victims were all people who were inside the vehicles, police said. 

Police said five people were in one car and three people were in another. Authorities have not released any further details about what happened.

There was no structural damage done to the building.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

The crash happened just before 6:15 p.m. at 15^th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW, authorities said. 

Two vehicles were involved, but details about how the crash happened were not immediately available. The victims were all people inside the vehicles, police said. 

One person was transported with critical, life-threatening injuries. Five other people were also taken to the hospital. Three others were evaluated at the scene and declined further treatment.

There was no structural damage done to the building.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

According to the police report, the victims’ rideshare was crossing Georgia Avenue at Morton Street when another car came down Georgia Avenue, and someone in that car opened fire at around 12:47 a.m.

D.C. police said the bullet passed through the door of the vehicle and struck the victims. It was not clear if the women were the intended targets of the gunfire.

Police said the victims didn’t know that they’d been hit at first. Then, one of the women “felt a warm feeling on her leg,” and she and the other passenger realized that they’d been shot, the police report states.

The victims were not transported by ambulance, but they did go to the hospital and are expected to survive their injuries.

A spokesperson from Uber told News4: “The senseless act of violence is sickening and we hope the injured riders recover quickly. We commend the driver for his quick action in getting help for the victims and are grateful he is uninjured.”

Authorities have not shared information on any suspects and have not made arrests.

Uber said it was in contact with the driver to offer support, and is working on getting in touch with the riders. They added that their public safety team is ready to assist law enforcement with the investigation.

According to data from the Metropolitan Police Department, there have been 41 crimes reported within a half-mile radius of the intersection.

It’s one of many D.C. neighborhoods seeing new residents and new businesses.

“I feel pretty safe. I actually live not too far from here,” one resident said. “This is my stomping ground. I’m always up and down Georgia Avenue, and I’ve never really had a problem. But I’m never out late.”

Police are still investigating the incident. Authorities said blocks away, a stray bullet entered a home. No one was injured, and it was not immediately clear if that damage could be connected to the shooting on Georgia Avenue.

The flames ripped through Doris Bronson’s rowhome on Princeton Place at 3 a.m. Sunday while everyone was asleep in their beds. It was a close call for her and her family.

“Where the fire started, if my 12-year-old had not been in his room, he would be dead right now,” Bronson said. 

There were 11 people in the house – a combination of family and several children there for a birthday sleepover. Bronson tried to get upstairs to the kids, but the smoke pushed her back. 

“As I went up the steps and went into the kitchen, the fire smoked me from both ways,” she said.   

Bronson’s 18-year-old daughter got the children to safety before becoming trapped herself. She jumped from a window to escape, breaking her pelvis, leg and bones in her back. 

“Everyone keeps asking me if I’m OK, and I’m not OK! My daughter risked her life so she could save her brothers and sisters,” Bronson said.  

While they have their lives, she added that her family lost everything they owned. 

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but Bronson says she texted the landlord repeatedly about ongoing electrical and plumbing problems and that things weren’t properly fixed. 

News4 reached out to her landlord, but messages were not returned. 

Bronson’s daughter underwent surgery for her injuries Monday, but her mother said she has a long and difficult recovery ahead.

Since September, a number of incidents have been reported to police, where people who work in the Forest Hills neighborhood that borders Rock Creek Park have come out to find a window of their car, truck or van broken and valuables taken. In two cases, the vehicle was left unlocked.

One neighbor said an employee was hit twice in two weeks.

The items stolen were those the victims might not want or need to take inside a home with them.

According to five D.C. police reports obtained by News4, the items taken include: 

• power tools
• wallets and purses 
• Maryland driver’s licenses
• U.S. work permit cards and other documents 
• passports
• cash – that in one case totaled $3,000
• credit cards
• cell phones

Architect Travis Price has an office on Chesterfield Place, and employees and contractors come and go every day. One of his employees, a student, had her car broken into, only to have the car she borrowed from her mother broken into the following week.

“This is just a classic setup, and it doesn’t need to happen. It’s really making everybody unhappy,” he said.

Our sister station Telemundo 44 spoke with one of the victims in Spanish. He said he lost valuable documents, cash and tools from a vehicle broken into on Linnean Avenue in December. 

He added that he’d heard reports of about a dozen similar crimes to workers’ vehicles in the area.

According to the police reports, all of the vehicles broken into except one had either Maryland or Virginia license plates. All of the victims, except one, listed those states as their home addresses.  

The police statistics are based on reports made to them. 

It’s believed that there are some cases where the victims, for various reasons, did not contact police.

The shooting happened at about 1:20 a.m. in front of 1608 Belmont Street NW. Police said the suspect fired eight rounds.

The deceased victim was identified as Avon Perkins, 30, of Baltimore, Maryland. The woman, who was hit by a stray bullet, had not life-threatening injuries. She was not identified.

The suspect was captured by a nearby surveillance camera, according to police. In the photos, he is shown wearing a gray sweatshirt with a black jacket.

Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. Tipsters should call police at 202-727-9099 or submit information anonymously by texting 50411.

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Authorities were called around 5:50 p.m. to a crash at Florida Liquors at the corner of 14^th Street and Florida Avenue NW. 

The victim, a 30-year-old Uber Eats driver who did not want to provide her name, said she left her car to run into a 7-Eleven to pick up an order. When she came out, she saw the vehicle lodged into the corner of a building.

“I thought maybe I left it in drive and it rolled off, and I’m like hoping that wasn’t the case. I’m like, did I leave it in drive? Did it roll by itself? And that’s when the guys tell me, ‘No, someone tried to steal it, and these little boys hopped out and ran out,’” the victim said. 

Witnesses said the thieves flew through the traffic light, hitting a truck and going straight into Florida Liquors on the corner. 

The occupants of the truck were evaluated by first responders for minor injuries. The liquor store, a neighborhood staple of 30 years, is now closed for business, and the owner left with a major mess.

The owner of the establishment said he was inside at the time of the crash and felt a big boom. When he came outside, the car thieves were gone and his business was in bad shape. 

Besides breaking bottles, the suspects also hit a gas line, causing a leak and leading to power being cut off from the building. Washington Gas was called to the scene to secure it.

D.C. police have not provided a description of the suspects, but anyone with information is encouraged to call them. 

D.C. police said they were alerted by ShotSpotter technology to a shooting at around 1:20 a.m. in front of 1608 Belmont Street NW. 

First responders found a man, identified as 30-year-old Avon Perkins of Baltimore, Maryland, on the sidewalk in front of 2467 18th Street NW suffering from gunshot wounds. Perkins was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. 

A woman was hit by a stray bullet, and she was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening at a hospital, authorities said. 

A third person, Bill Duggan, the owner of Madam’s Organ bar, said he watched the shooting happen. Though he was not injured, he said the gunman fired in his direction.

“I heard the gunshot and I turned, and I saw the [victim] falling backwards. And the other man was there with the gun out and he just continued to shoot him. Shot him a total of five times. I had yelled, told everybody to get down,” Duggan said. “He, I guess, heard it, turned toward me, towards us.”

Duggan said he and others dove out of the way as the gunman opened fire.

“He got the last shot out, turned. I saw him put his gun back in his jacket and start to run,” he said.

A motive for the shooting and description of the suspect were not provided. Authorities say eight rounds were fired.

Duggan believes more needs to be done to keep people safe in the neighborhood.

“If you have this many people out late at night and you have absolutely no police, sooner or later, something like this is going to happen,” he said. “Truthfully I think the young man would be alive tonight if we had any police presence in this neighborhood.”

Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. Tipsters should call police at 202-727-9099 or submit information anonymously by texting 50411.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

The panic caused by one recent shooting was captured on video Friday night.

The security camera footage shows a dark SUV stopping at Georgia Avenue NW at Newton Place. A burst of gunfire erupts from the SUV, sending people on the sidewalk running from the car. No one was hurt. Several cars and homes were damaged, police said.

“That sounds like a war zone. It’s really sad,” resident Zak Sawyer said after watching video of the shooting.

Just a week earlier, a white SUV blatantly crashed into several cars on the same street and took off in broad daylight.

According to D.C. Police data for Police Service Area 409 — which includes Georgia Avenue NW between Rock Creek Church Road and Columbia Road — there have been single-digit increases in the number of crimes including robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon in the past two years. Motor vehicle thefts are up nearly 60%, from 52 in 2020 to 83 this year.

Crimes investigated this year on Newton Place near Georgia Avenue NW include four assaults with a dangerous weapon, two vehicle-related thefts, two other thefts and a robbery, according to MPD’s crime map.

Violence has troubled nearby areas as well. On Monday afternoon, a carjacker forced a woman out of her car and shot her in the leg near 14th and Newton streets NW, police said.

Neighbors say something must be done.

Sawyer says many people in the community are concerned for their safety, but so far they’ve gotten little support from the city.

Folks in the neighborhood say the intersection has become a hot spot for crime.

“If you speak to other residents, they’ve known that this has been a generally unsafe street. And considering there’s a police substation around the corner, you think they’d be able to do a better job of keeping the area safe,” Sawyer said.

One lifelong Washingtonian thinks the problem requires a systematic solution.

“If there ain’t no accountability, how you think? People are gonna do what they wanna do. Kids keep doing the same thing over and over again. Because no accountability,” one resident said. “If you do the crime, you need to do the time.”

Many residents told News4 that they’re in constant contact with police, but all they hear is that the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating.

They are the doctors who shoulder a lot of the day-to-day work at hospitals as they complete their medical training, and their protest signs grew soggy in the pouring rain. 

The resident physicians who gathered Tuesday were from Children’s National, Howard University and Saint Elizabeths hospitals. They huddled together under small tents in a downpour to bring attention to their efforts to ensure a new labor contract will reflect their struggles.

Their young medical careers are historic, including two plus years of a global pandemic that has killed over a million people in the U.S., and a current deluge of very young patients with viral respiratory infections, including RSV.

The residents say they pick up the slack when hospitals experience nursing and other staff shortages. They also say they are spread thin and are mentally and physically exhausted.

“Because we are responsible for treating the most vulnerable patients, we do whatever it takes to give them the best, most attentive, safest and compassionate care possible, even when that means exhausting ourselves beyond our limits,” one demonstrator said into a microphone. 

A record number of hospital residents joined labor unions during the pandemic.In a statement, a spokesperson for Children’s Hospital said: “We remain hopeful that this surge in respiratory infections will subside to historical levels which would reduce some pressure on our teams. We thank the residents for their hard work and dedication to our patients.”

The teenagers were found conscious and breathing at around 5:20 p.m. in the 400 block of O Street NW, and at least one was taken to the hospital, D.C. police said.

More details about potential suspects were not provided. 

On Friday, 15-year-old Makai Green, of Northwest D.C., was shot multiple times after someone got out of a car and opened fire on a group of teenagers. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Police said they are searching for a silver Mercedes with tinted windows in that case. They also said the masked gunman is about 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11 with a very thin build, who was wearing blue jeans and a dark jacket.

“I was born and raised here. I got into a bit of trouble myself as a young man,” Assistant Chief Andre Wright said on Friday. “I hope and pray for these young folks that they get a chance to do what I did, which is outlive their mistakes.”

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

The child was in the backseat of an unattended, running car near the Safeway on Columbia Road in Adams Morgan Monday about 6:45 p.m., police said.

A suspect jumped in the vehicle and drove away, police said.

The child was found safe more than a mile away in  Woodley Park, along Cathedral Avenue.

While the boy is safe, police are still looking for the car and the person who stole it.

The victim’s vehicle is a lime green 2014 Kia Soul with Virginia plates reading TVH-9942.

The suspect is set to face unarmed kidnapping and auto theft charges.

Anyone with information is asked to contact D.C. police A $1,000 reward is available in the case.

Firefighters responded to a fire in the 1600 block of Park Road at about 9 a.m. Sunday. The fire occurred on the 4^th floor of a five-story occupied apartment building, D.C. Fire and EMS said.

Firefighters said residents were in distress at the apartment’s windows. Some people were removed by ladders and others were removed from inside the apartment, D.C. Fire said. It was not immediately clear how many residents were inside the apartment at the time of the fire.

One woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, D.C. Fire said.

“[The was] smoke showing, people at numerous windows obviously in distress, calling for help,” Vito Maggiolo, the department’s public information officer, said. “An adult female severely injured. Critical, life-threatening injuries in front of the building. She was transported to a nearby trauma center.”

A man was taken to the hospital with not life-threatening injuries. A third person was evaluated but later released, D.C. Fire said.

The fire was located in a stairwell between the 3rd and 4th floors, and first responders found some burning materials there. There was not a fire inside an apartment, according to firefighters.

Firefighters said the building was being ventilated while smoke conditions were removed.

Around the same time, there was a second fire at a townhouse in the 1600 block of 28th and Q Streets Southeast. Firefighters arrived about five minutes after the fire was reported.

Neighbor George Coe Jr. told News4 he jumped into action before firefighters arrived. He helped his friend and a newborn get out of the fire.

“I just ran in the building, helped everyone out,” Coe said.

Authorities said the fire appeared to have started in the basement and spread to other floors of the building. 13 people were displaced.

The cause of the fires are under investigation.

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Authorities are looking for a white Mazda CX-5 SUV suspected of hitting a man about 7:30 p.m. at New Jersey Avenue and Q Streets NW, the Metropolitan Police Department said.

Officers responded to the scene and found a man unconscious but breathing. He was taken to a hospital, police said. Police haven’t released information about his identity or what kind of scooter he was using.

The driver left the crash scene, police said.

Major crash detectives were called to investigate.

Serious crashes involving pedestrians in the District are down from last year. As of Thursday, 50 pedestrians and 15 bicyclists suffered major injuries on the roads in 2022. That’s down from 78 pedestrians and 16 cyclists over the same period in 2021.

Still, several deadly crashes in the D.C. area are calling attention to a danger on the roads

A road crew worker was struck and killed in Adelphi, Maryland, Thursday morning. In that case, the driver stayed on the scene.

Another man was killed in a hit-and-run Wednesday near a Greenbelt, Maryland, gas station.  

Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story said police were looking for a silver pickup truck. Authorities have since updated the description of the suspect’s vehicle.

Shots were fired just before 6 p.m. near the intersection of O Street and 7^th Street NW, outside the Kennedy Recreation Center.

D.C. police said the victims are expected to be OK, but details about their injuries are not known.

Authorities at this point in the investigation believe the gunfire was likely a drive-by, but have yet to release any information on a vehicle that could have been involved.

“[There were] multiple rounds of gunfire. Our officers also heard the gunfire. They were on scene right away,” Capt. Chris Moore, of the Metropolitan Police Department, said. 

Police said whoever fired at the three men quickly took off, and it doesn’t appear that any of the victims fired back.

“At this time, it looks just like a one-direction shooting,” Moore said.  

Multiple vehicles were also struck, and things could have been worse if there were more bystanders nearby.

More said the shooting appears targeted, but the motive was not immediately clear.

One woman who lives right next to the recreation center who wanted to remain anonymous said she was concerned, but not surprised.

“It definitely makes me nervous. I don’t like to walk on that corner ever. When I’m walking around, I tend to avoid that area,” she said. “Because I know that if something were to happen, it’s probably on that corner.”

Police are asking anyone with information on the potential shooter to contact them.  

“We’re trying to put an end to this gun violence as much as we can,” Moore said. 

Authorities said they’re reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses at this point in the investigation, but they do not believe that there is an immediate threat to the public.

Of the juveniles, only one got into the black Jeep Cherokee at around 1:13 p.m. while it was running on Georgia Avenue NW and Kenyon Street NW, authorities said. 

The suspect dumped the car with the child safely in the back nearby on Irving Street, D.C. police said.

The child was evaluated on the scene and was uninjured, according to authorities. 

Police are still looking for the suspects. 

News4 is working to learn more about this developing story.

Police responding to a call for a welfare check in the 5100 block of 2^nd Street NW found Gloria Williams dead from “sharp force injuries.”

A friend described Williams, an avid Washington Commanders fan, as the unofficial mayor of the block who knew everyone on the block and helped people out, whether with a bite to eat or a sympathetic ear.

Police asked residents on the block to check their security cameras to see if there are any images that could be helpful to detectives.